Can these cameos save Corrie in 2025?

Ok, Corrie doesn’t need ‘saving’, but it’s been a tough old year for the ITV institution. Despite some epic storylines, great cast additions and a few much-needed departures (Gail definitely not included), there’s been a heavy dose of criticism not only from us superfans but across the media and the British TV-watching public. 

There’s a common theme to the dissatisfaction; there are just too many characters, and many of them are given storylines that don’t tug at the heartstrings because we haven’t been given enough time to care about them. And to be frank there’s a fair few that have been around a while that we still don’t give a monkeys about. Discuss among yourselves. Not to mention the numerous kids, teens and young adults causing chaos across the Street that don’t seem to be adding much…I’m not sure how many more scenes of forlorn mouth-breather Mason skulking around Victoria Gardens I can take.

We’re about to lose the much-loved Gail Platt and I’m still coming to terms with the news that Debbie Webster’s leaving storyline has been set-up - I refuse to believe it’s true until I see it on screen. There’s even a petition to keep actor Sue Devaney in the show. Get it signed! Losing Sue would be a significant loss to the show in my opinion. 

But the New Year might bring new fortunes for the beleaguered soap, and there’s a tried and tested way of  adding a bit of camp and comedy to the cobbles - celebrity cameo appearances. Some have been utterly ridiculous - I’m looking at you Lorraine Kelly - and others fall flat; the late Girls Aloud icon Sarah Harding gave it a good go on her limited run but it just didn’t work. But other short celeb stints have worked like magic - remember Ian McKellen as devious conman Mel Hutchwright? And Status Quo at Les and Cilla's wedding?

Here are some well known faces I think would spice things up a bit on the nation’s most famous street in 2025 - can you think of any others you'd like to pay a visit?

PETER KAY

I'm a big fan of all Peter's work from 'Phoenix Nights' to 'Britain's Got the Pop Factor and Possibly a New Celebrity Jesus Christ Soapstar Superstar Strictly on Ice' and am glad to see him back on tour after a few years out of action. Peter is no stranger to Coronation Street having had a small speaking part back in the late 90s and then as Shelly's love interest Eric Gartside in 2004. Absolute TV gold. Corrie is missing the laughs these days as it tries to draw a younger crowd the way Easternders has. Maybe Peter is the man to bring back the comedy by bringing back Eric Gartside? What would Jenny Bradley think of him?

JULIE WALTERS

Another comedy icon of the small screen, Julie has recently had more of a cinematic career, having appeared in blockbuster Mamma Mia and its sequels. She's now surely reached the status of being able to pick and choose her roles, so how about a few episodes of Coronation Street....serving two soups in the Bistro perhaps?

MEGHAN MARKLE

Despite turning their backs on the UK for a better life away from our dreadful paparazzi, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle often come back to Blighty for their various charities. And of course Meg is a former actress. Could she add a bit of glamour to Corrie and maybe provide a new love interest for Kirk? Or how about Gary Windass...she is partial to a ginger afterall...

CRAIG CASH

Monotone voice of Gogglebox and the legend that co-wrote The Royle Family, Craig is a national treasure. His dulcet Manchester twang and working class persona would fit perfectly with the rest of the Street. In fact, Corrie comes across as positively middle class these days. Perhaps it's time for a someone to bring the common touch back to the Street?

LISA STANSFIELD

Despite never having found her baby, Lisa Stansfield still tours the world and is a soul superstar. She still however lives in her beloved Rochdale, just a few miles from Media City where Corrie is filmed. Producers apparently offered her a role as landlady of the Rovers, a role Michelle Collins later took. Time to reconsider?

ANDY BURNHAM

Politicians have visited the cobbles for decades. From Thatcher to Ed Miliband, desperate for votes they've pulled pints and had selfies with our Corrie favourites in the hope of soaking up some of that working-class popularity. With Manchester's buses coming into public ownership and council elections to come in 2025, Greater Manchester Mayor Andy could do worse than a trip to Weatherfield on one of those famous yellow trams. 

DONALD TRUMP

Ok hear me out. I'm not fan of the orange menace either. But he's about to take the reins across the Atlantic once again and we all have to make the best of it. So how about a bit of relationship building by inviting the 47th President to the world's longest running TV soap. Carla could take him on a tour around Underworld as a foreign investor, to discuss their entrepreneurial expertise. Maybe even exchange some local delicacies...an Eccles cake in return for some of that famous chlorinated chicken...? Yummy. Trump has dipped his toe into acting before...who remembers him in Home Alone 2?

LA VOIX

RuPaul's Drag Race is not everyone's cup of tea but it's generated a handful of household names. A recent success from the UK version of the franchise is La Voix, a fabulously camp comedy queen who is currently entertaining audiences with Vernon Kay in panto at the Wycombe Swan theatre. Perhaps a quick visit to Manchester after Christmas is in order...or is it time Coronation Street had a full-time drag queen? Oh yes it is....

Maybe you're totally against soap cameos. It's true they don't always work. But we are all missing that Corrie comedy magic we grew up watching, so desperate times call for desperate measures. Their BBC rival has a never-ending stream of former cast members to call back and make dramatic returns, but Corrie doesn't seem to have as many of those to draw on. And Eastenders, while high on camp, has never been famous for comedy. That's Coronation Street's USP, and one it should embrace. One thing's for sure, in 2025 fans are expecting a few changes if they are to carry on tuning in. Time will tell if producers are listening.

Happy Christmas everyone.

@StevieDawson 

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Coronation Street Episode Review Friday 13 December 2024

In the great recoupling merry-go-round it does not take long for Daisy to discover that Bethany and Daniel are re-united and so Daisy is soon setting about seducing Kit on the sofa in the back room (does no-one ever worry about bar staff needing to dash through for Betty's hotpot?).  Shona appears slightly annoyed when she sees Daisy taking Kit and a bottle through to the back room.  

More seriously Max breaks the rules and leaves Frankie with Joel's parents who take Frankie to Joel's memorial for his birthday without a word (just a belated text message) and whilst out find that he has bruises.  Joel's parents meanwhile have been taking legal advice (in Roys Rolls of all places) and they are going to launch a bid for guardianship of the child.  After most of an episode running around worrying trying to find, Gus and Anthea return with Frankie who is handed over to social services and is taken to hospital, Lauren is told she may go to the hospital once she has explained how the baby is bruised and Max gets into a confrontation with nurses and the police turn up and arrest him.  Shona meets him at the station which gives her a chance to exchange niceties with Kit, who will clearly take everything he gets offered.  The medical staff eventually accept that neither Lauren, Max or the grandparents have caused the bruises - but then again they do not know why there are bruises and will be running further medical tests whilst Lauren returns to prison but she is allowed to cuddle Frankie before returning.  Max is of course blaming himself for letting Frankie out of his sight and I was shouting at the screen to take Max upstairs with him.  

Shona is not aware that David has found the dumped damaged jacket - but he is very suspicious of everything she does.  Especially as she leaves the house in front of him and heads down the Street hardly acknowledging his existence.  She denies it - but things are not right between them at the moment given the night she spent elsewhere.

Gail is having a spa morning and then going to the Rovers for the rest of he hen during which her children will be posing simple questions like "Who is your favourite child", "Order Gail's husbands in order of height", "What links a hippo, a walrus and a sea lion?".  However during the party in the Rovers Eileen enjoys winding up Gail bby sniping from the sidelines,  which ends when Gail orders a pint of water and threatens to throw it over Eileen; mutual respect established they do not resort to fisticuffs and Eileen vacates the pub to enable the celebration to continue.  However it soon stutters to a conclusion when Audrey reports feeling unwell.  Back at Platt Towers with David she admits she is not really unwell - but does not want her daughter living a day's travel away in France.  (David's mortgage has been approved so farewell Gail's Ghetto and hello David's Digs).  Audrey observes that Gail's marriages never work out - whilst David says the rest of the family are there to support her.  

In magical Weatherfield we switch from rain pouring down outside Underworld to Betsy and Dylan sitting in warm sun in the playground in the precinct!  Mason confirms that since the Underworld "robbery" his brothers have left him alone.  Some ne'er do well snatches Dylan's bag but Mason dashes to the rescue and the bag is dropped exposing a "killer zombie" type blade.  Dylan later tells Mason that he has got rid of the knife but I am not completely convinced.

Evelyn's interest in the legal world continues and she accompanies Alya to a criminal law lecture impersonating Marjorie Tavistock who had not collected her name card.  However Marjorie later turns up and accuses Evelyn of stealing her identity, all of which is discussed in Roy's Rolls later with Evelyn suggesting Marjorie needed to "be more Evelyn".  She seeks to convince Alya that she should be a defending lawyer, not a prosecuting solicitor.  Evelyn also says that people know she opinions which she keeps to herself - to which Cassie collapses in laughter.  

And things are not great between Eileen and George at the moment?  Is she regretting letting Jesse go? 

Due to a planned holiday I am unlikely to be here next week or for the following couple of Fridays.  Once I have caught up I will return.  By then all of this will have been explained.  And can we keep Anthea even if Frankie stays in prison please?  And for the record unhappy couples at the moment in one way or another: Daniel and either Bethany or Daisy, Kit and either Daisy or Shona, David and Shona, Eileen and George, Nick and either Leanne or Toyah.  Is it possible to have stories without marital unrest please?  Is all well with Tim and Sally, Fiz and Ty, Gemma and Chesney?  

Written by Debbie Oates.  Directed by Neil Alderton.

Kosmo

@Kosmo100

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Coronation Street Episode Review Friday 6 December 2024

Welcome to Friday night on t'Street.  Shona has not been home since "yesterday" but has sent Roy a message to day she will not be in as she is not feeling well (a headache) as he tells David who is looking for her.  When she does re-appear she rows with David but eventually two wise old men sit down with the couple separately - Roy with Shona and Max with David - to effectively remind both of them that they love each other and that Clayton might be important to Shona and objectionable to David the latter has to learn to live with that.  Which is all well and good until David discovers that Shona took the "morning after" pill this morning and that Daniel happens to have Shona's purse in his bag as he found it down the back of the sofa after Adam brought her home last night.  Given Adam's reputation of chasing women David reckons that Adam and Shona spent the night together - which Adam denies as he slept on the sofa (on the purse) and Shona had his bed.  David accepts the story.

We do not get to see Les's funeral but before leaving the Street Leanne is making a real song and dance to get Nick's attention, which simply acts to wind up Toyah.  At the wake in the Bistro Leanne tells Nick that she has spoken to Mrs Crawshaw and gained approval for Sam to go on holiday with Nick so that they can have some family time.  Les's committal was with "All the Reasons" by Status Quo which fitted his memory well, after all Rick Parfitt did hit him.  Leanne spots Nick and Toyah being friendly and immediately breaks down in tears so Nick can comfort her.  Chesney remains unsure about the abattoir and the offer of £50k between them to sign an NDA.  His concerns grow when he is approached by Jim a fellow abattoir employee who says the place is an accident waiting to happen - the floors are not properly cleaned, there have been injuries - but Les would not drink on duty and so it was not his fault. Les head butting Curly and running over Theresa (the turkey) also get mentioned.

Debbie Webster has a new car - which for those interested is a TVR 280S S1 which apparently needs some attention from Kevin as the tyres seem a bit wonky.  Apparently convertibles are always cheaper at this time of year.  Bethany and Sarah consult Adam - but despite another botched op no legal action can be taken in this country - but it might be possible to pursue a director or shareholder if there was one based in the UK and what a surprise Debbie is a shareholder!  Sarah and Bethany take matters into their own hands and confronts Debbie at the Chariot Square hotel.  Later Sarah openly keys the new car in front of Kevin.  Kit wanders past and invites Sarah to go somewhere quiet to explain herself - which she does back at the flat.    

Glenda, George, Mary and Brian appear together a couple of times - firstly discussing Christmas films and then Noddy Holder but seemingly unaware of Stan Potter - before their time I suppose.  Later they foregather in the Rovers to provide an audience for a further exchange between Sarah and Debbie and to discuss France where Mary on a flight of fancy recalls spending six months with a farmhand!    Debbie uses the opportunity of the row to tell Sarah that Bethany lied at the support group about it being cancer - which Daniel over hears and instantly cannot believe that Bethany lied about the cause of her stoma.  Bethany admits that they assumed it was cancer and she did not correct them.  

Ramping up the Christmas spirit David is trying to decorate the house and Dev is serving bratwurst - as if anyone could turn down Dev's sausage (even if it does smell).

Gail and Jesse appear in the Rovers - Gail is insistent on selling the house and going to look at the new builds near the Red Rec.  Jesse fancies a villa in the South of France and seeks to convince Gail they will enjoy it.  Once home they switch on the lights on the now decorated tree - they come on and then go off.  Then Jesse points out their shipping name #Jail and they both laugh and hug.  

Finally at the Rovers David and Shona are about to have a celebratory reconciliation beer.  Adam enters and David offers him a drink as reparation for the earlier accusation.  Adam then admits that Shona told him almost everything last night - but not the "who".  This upsets Shona who tells David she is not feeling well but as she attempts to leave Kit enters and says "We gonna talk about last night?".  So at the moment the implication is that Shona got herself rat-arsed, had some form of congression with an individual who may or may not have been Kit, was in some way found distraught by Adam who ensured she encountered no further harm but who knows much of the story.  And of course it may all be a red-herring.  Roll credits.

Last weekend the Sun on Sunday interviewed Sean Wilson who confirmed that following a voluntary interview with Greater Manchester Police they will be taking no further action over the report they had received about him which was materially at variance with the information initially provided by an unknown source to ITV Studios which prevented his anticipated return to Coronation Street.  I record this here because I feel one or two individuals seem to have conspired, with little available evidence, to destroy a whole body of work which the professional team at ITV Studios developed to explain Gail's departure and which in terms of the overall programme potentially reflected, for the long term viewers, a more welcome leaving story.  We cannot now know how that story was going to run and speaking purely personally I feel "I wuz robbed".  Sean Wilson has obviously spoken for himself and in the light of other recent allegations it is inevitable that management had to take the steps it did.

Written by David Proud and Joe Parkinson.  Mr Parkinson has penned one previous episode but has been involved in storylines for many years.  Directed by Katie Fenton-Green.

Kosmo

@Kosmo100

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